Best advice for winter driving for new driver?
Posted by Individual_Shine_881@reddit | Truckers | View on Reddit | 58 comments
I'm planning to stay out for the next 3 months and it will be my first winter driving.
Initial-Relation-696@reddit
Speed, pass on corners, brake hard on ice. Winter driving rules.
hera_the_destroyer@reddit
Don’t forget quick turning motions of the steering wheel to clean the snow off of your tires.
acd2002@reddit
Go slow, put your hazards on, if you start to slide even when you’re going 20 mph it’s time to park er at the nearest safe haven and take a nap.
Old-Wolf-1024@reddit
Stay below I-20
unwantedrelic@reddit
Don’t just check the weather report for your destination. Check it for the entire trip and the days you will be going through those areas. It might be nice and sunny where you’re going, but a storm on the way.
threeglude@reddit
Most everything you need to know has already been said, I'm just going to break it down in an easy way to read and reread it, over and over again. Memorize this!!
Winter emergency gear: 1. Warm winter jacket, hat, and gloves 2. Sweater and sweat pants 3. Long sleeve shirts and at least 1 pair of insulted jeans 4. Thick socks, wool is best 5. Winter boots 6. Extra blanket 7. 3-4 days worth of food and water 8. Flashlight 9. Couple bottles of 911 for fuel 10. Tarp and bungee cords, especially if your running a truck that has trouble staying warm at idle (tarp gets fixed in front of grill, using bungees to hold it in place
If anyone can think of other items to add to the winter gear list, please feel free to comment below..
Significant_Ad5335@reddit
I would add
Extra gloves- especially if you have to throw chains. Either way it sucks putting on cold wet gloves, i keep 2-3 pairs and rotate them accordingly.
Kitty litter a trick with i came up with. Buy a big tub of value kitty litter. Take 1gallon zip locks and fill them up. Then, when you get stuck, just take a bag and put the 1 bag in the rut area When you start to spin, the bag will break and give you traction. (Kinda like the fifth wheel grease packets concept)
threeglude@reddit
Great extra info!
firstblush73@reddit
If you take any vital medications, prior to winter would be a good time to ask your doctor for an extra 2 week supply. Its also helpful keep a small medicine kit with Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen, Benedryl, Whatever Cold Medicine works well for your system, cough drops. Imodium, and Tums. (Truck stops charge a premium for a very small supply of these)
Zero degree sleeping bag for yourself and 1 for each passenger/pet.
Small usb power supply and a usb powered mini heater.
Non-perishable foods that can be eaten as is, and provide nutrients. I keep granola bars, honey packets, pop tarts and cereals.
threeglude@reddit
Nice add-ons! I do most of these myself and forgot to include them. Thanks!
threeglude@reddit
Adding to #8 on my first list: Ignore the "feels like temp", this temp is based on actual temp + windchill effect. Only the "actual" temp matters.
Adding another tip...
9 (for first list): If it's below 10f and you'll be shutting the truck down for more then a few hours, plug it in. Tip: block heaters typically stop working due to a short (break in the wires), so try plugging it in while temps are still up, if there's a short, it'll trip the breaker on the outlet, provided it's a GFI outlet; giving you a chance to get it fixed before winter hits.
flergityberg@reddit
Great reply, especially #4.
OP, if things look even slightly bad, park it. Twice last winter that the weather in the Midwest started worrying me, I ended up sitting for two days. When I got rolling again the highway was littered with wrecked semis.
duhrun@reddit
Park when its bad, avoid listening to super truckers, listen to weather from multiple sources, get a cb there is no substitute for in real time info like ‘truck just jackknifed around that next corner’, never drive on black ice.
Solarisdevorak@reddit
All of this
Happytrails2025@reddit
This
bmf1989@reddit
If you’ve uncomfortable driving in the conditions then park it, period. Most places that regularly get that kind of weather will probably have the roads plowed and salted within a day unless it’s a multi day storm in which case your should definitely be parked up somewhere. Also keep food/water/blankets all that common sense stuff stocked for worst case scenarios.
Also something I wish I’d known my first year, keep your brakes from freezing on you over night. Before parking up for the night try to get your brakes nice and hot so they’ll burn off moisture. Also a good idea to release your brakes and move the truck a small amount after you’ve been parked for 10-15 mins. Having to get up in the morning when it’s cold as shit outside and dealing with frozen brakes sucks, highly recommend avoiding it.
StolenRage@reddit
Don't forget to keep your air tanks drained. One time my air lines froze up from the compressor to the primary tank. It took me almost 5 hours in below zero temps crawling around under the truck and pouring air line anti freeze into lines and tanks to get things unfrozen.
TwinSpinner@reddit
To add to the brakes, DON'T use the trailer brakes when you park, those are more likely to freeze, and much harder to unfreeze, just pull the tractor brake alone. If you are paranoid about rolling, you could always chock a wheel
DanEpiCa@reddit
To add to that, if the brakes are frozen try backing up a bit first, they might just break loose and for some reason backing does the trick better than driving forward.
Happytrails2025@reddit
This
No_Pie4958@reddit
Take your time drive slow and it’s snowing out if it’s icy stop as soon as possible. Be careful using the brakes. If you start the slide, let go of your break. Let the guys who think they are Joe pro go by don’t try to keep up with them when the snow is coming down hard I try to fall somebody else. Don’t try to pass somebody but it’s snowing hard cause you think they go slowbecause when you get in front, you can’t see shit.
OkSeaworthiness251@reddit
Snow slippers
TruckerBiscuit@reddit
Chains are for getting out of a bad situation not getting into a bad situation.
If it's bad enough to consider slapping chains find safe legal parking and call dispatch.
icodyonline@reddit
Utilize the Internet. Nine times out of 10 truckstop parking lots are going to be much worse than the road. Get on line and look at traffic cameras to get real time updates. Slow and steady wins the race. Keep some cat litter or some ice melt on your truck. Keep a set of two by fours on the truck in case you get stuck. Do not use cruise control. Try not to change lanes on a curve.
papisilla@reddit
Park. Even if you do fine the odds of someone else crashing into you go through the roof
curlyfat@reddit
Most is obvious (slow down, don’t let se full Jake’s on snow, shut down when it’s too uncomfortable for you), but what’s always left out, as someone born and raised in Wyoming, RESPECT THE WIND.
When they post “no light or high profile vehicles,” that means you. If that warning is posted and you flip, you’re light and high profile. Of course, that’ll be the least of your worries because your semi is lying in its side in the ditch and you’re scrambling to try and escape.
firstblush73@reddit
Once it hits anywhere around 32° pull over and call it a day until the salt/sand trucks are out.
(Thats where snow turns to ice)
Kortobowden@reddit
If the other cars aren’t splashing the water with their tires, it’s freezing, park asap.
Kortobowden@reddit
Your life is more important than getting something on time, park if you’re worried about continuing in the adverse weather and talk to dispatch.
Zaphod-Beebebrox@reddit
Plan your fuel stops...
thellamaspantz@reddit
If your cb antennas are on the mirror arm pay attention to them in the rain. They will be one of the first things to ice up and once they have blocks on them and are bopping from the weight, the road is gonna ice over.
bones_1775@reddit
If you have to chain then it's time to park. No load is worth your life or anyone else's.
LivingIntelligent968@reddit
If you don’t think the conditions you are driving in are not safe pull over and wait until it is. That might mean refusing a dispatch to keep driving but your life and others lives are worth far more than a load of paper or bananas. I worked in operations for a long time and never forced a driver to drive if he or she felt the conditions were bad.
Muted_Lengthiness500@reddit
Nothing better than a dispatch saying you have to go regardless lmao I’ve been there before.
Happytrails2025@reddit
This
groovyinutah@reddit
Watch the weather constantly, and just know everything will take longer. Start looking at alternate routes if you can. We are fast approaching the time of year where we start avoiding Wyoming altogether but of course some of you don't have that option.
Pitiful-MobileGamer@reddit
Slow down, lights on, don't get complacent.
You got to drive with a smooth hand and a responsive foot. You do so by anticipating lane changing, exits, lane closures, grades and sharper turns. Give the truck time to maintain traction, too much lateral is going to cause issues.
I like to keep it a few under the governor when there's snow under, so you are able to accelerate out of a trailer upset. You also should shut off your Jake if there's snow and ice.
There's a few nasty spots around the country where you can get some fast building snowfall amounts. I-81 around Watertown and the Eastern side of Lake Ontario. I-90 east and west of the Buffalo area. I-96 gets really nasty west of the 69.
DoctorZebra@reddit
Learn to say "no".
Don't get close to anything that you don't want to hit.
If you do any mountain driving, make sure you're carrying enough chains regardless of weather or whether or not you intend to use them. Colorado has been checking for chain compliance since last month.
Practice installing tire chains somewhere warm and dry. A chain station in the snow is a BAD time to be trying to figure out how your chains work.
Rando_Ricketts@reddit
Take it slow. Drive for the conditions
UndeadZaroc@reddit
On snow and ice pretend there is a rotten egg between your foot and the pedals.
Slow. Gentle inputs.
Normal-Pie7610@reddit
It's like old people fucking: the faster they go, the more likely somebody is going to die.
Repulsive_Repeat_337@reddit
Stay south of interstate 40
yamahamama61@reddit
Lol. Ain't that the truth.
yamahamama61@reddit
Yes GET A C.B.
yamahamama61@reddit
Never use cruise control
BONERFLEX_@reddit
I usually won't drive in snow. Not because I can't do it safely. I don't because every stupid ass 4 wheeler is in a rush to pass me and they usually slam on the gas pedal or slam on their brakes causing them to loose control in front of me or next to me. Way too many idiots in a rush almost hitting my trailer because I was going a safe speed. I'll get on the road once it's cleared up and it's safe to drive again. Never chained up. And refuse to work for companies that would expect me to chain up. That's for emergencies if you get caught in bad weather. Pay attention to the weather forecast and don't risk it. No load is worth your life or someone else's. Safe travels.
schiza-clausen@reddit
Stay south
Happytrails2025@reddit
Go into turns slowly and exit a little quicker. On exits you’ll have a straight where entering if you go quick you’ll be off the road or worse. Also on exits be super gentle on and off the gas(yes even off the gas) you wouldn’t want to jackknife.
Happytrails2025@reddit
Should have mentioned, I’m talking about bends entering and exiting bends. Lmk if any questions
Happytrails2025@reddit
You don’t need to exit quicker, point is enter slowly
Happytrails2025@reddit
Shady spots are usually icy. Keep an eye on outside temps and humidity. Don’t upset the balance of your rig as you have less grip on cold tires in snow and can jackknife.
0100100012635@reddit
Plenty of time and plenty of space. Give yourself both.
Truck stops and rest areas will start filling up around 3PM. Plan accordingly.
Keep a jug of wiper fluid in the truck with you.
If at any point you don't feel safe, park that mf and don't let anybody make you feel bad about it.
cliowill@reddit
Just call in like i do
odinskriver39@reddit
Learn how to watch for black ice on the road. Sounds obvious but watch the tire spray on the vehicles in front. Looks wet but no spray = black ice.
bizzywhipped@reddit
Save speed for rainy weather is 55 mph. There is no safe speed for driving on packed snow.
Freightliner15@reddit
I like playing in the snow. I'm from Texas, screw the skating rinks we get there.
Ambitious-Lunch3242@reddit
Advice ? Shiiii man you either make through the winter alive or you don’t 😭 winters for us truck driver is like Russian roulette. I will say tho ik it snows a lot more on the east coast but you’re better offer there they atleast salt their roads and are prepared in the west man they don’t do shit about the snow or ice that’s why you always see tons of flipped semi’s specially in the Albuquerque area
Milk_MAN1963@reddit
My advice is stick to a speed you're comfortable with and don't worry about anyone else I've been hauling milk in Michigan since 78. I'm pretty comfortable with winter and don't care what someone else is doing